Letter: Gaza bloodshed must stop

John Fisher, pastor of the Oshtemo United Methodist church and candidate for the 61st House District, calls for peace and an end to the injustices committed against Palestinians in Gaza in recent weeks at the steps of the Kalamazoo Federal Building on Michigan Ave. Friday July 18, 2014.Kalamazoo Gazette file

The following is a letter to the editor that was sent to the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Daniel Smith, Portage

As we watch the mounting casualty figures stemming from the bloodshed in Gaza, we realize each life is precious and represents another loved one taken away. We must take action.

The attacks on Gaza by Israel’s armed forces, by one of the most advanced military machines in the world, is causing indiscriminate slaughter. The population of Gaza has no army, no navy, no air force, no missile defense systems, or air raid shelters.

We condemn the rockets fired at Israel by Hamas. However, compare these to 1,000-pound fragmentation bombs dropped in large numbers on crowded Palestinian neighborhoods, missiles falling on hospitals, children killed while playing soccer by shells from ships off the shore of Gaza, neighborhoods blasted with tanks and artillery.

We call for an immediate ceasefire and arms embargo on all sides. At the same time we realize that true peace will mean a long-term agreement, which will provide justice for the Palestinian people, an end to the blockade and siege of Gaza, an end to the Israeli occupation and illegal settlements, freedom of movement and guaranteed security for all in the region.

In the U.S., those who want peace must work for imposition of an arms embargo on Israel; this is especially important for Americans because weapons systems and attack aircraft provided by the U.S. are being used to carry out the assault.

We call upon President Barack Obama, Rep. Fred Upton, and Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin to work to immediately cut off the $3.1 billion in overt military aid that the U.S. gives to Israel each year, and ask all constituents to contact them to urge them to do the same.

Daniel Smith is the communications chairman of Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War (KNOW).